Abstract: An observation apparatus includes a sample tray that holds a container housing a cultured cell and a culture medium and covered with a lid; an observation unit that serves for observation of the cultured cell; and a shifting unit that relatively shifts the sample tray and a light axis of the observation unit along a plane that is orthogonal to the light axis of the observation unit, wherein the sample tray includes a container holding unit that holds the container by utilizing an elastic force, and at least one of the lid and one portion of the lid is made detachable, with the container being held in the sample tray by the container holding unit.

Abstract: A microscope includes a high humidity space that is maintained at a predetermined gas temperature and a predetermined relative humidity for culture of a living sample; an objective lens having a tip portion with a top lens which is disposed in the high humidity space, and serving to allow for an observation of the living cell incubated inside the high humidity space; a heater that heats the objective lens; and a temperature controller that controls the heater so that a surface temperature and an internal temperature of the objective lens are higher than a dew-point temperature and lower than a thermal death point of the living sample.

Abstract: A process for preparing a multilayer ceramic capacitor of the present invention comprises the steps of forming a pattern sheet, laminating a plurality of the pattern sheets and firing to obtain a multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising dielectric layers and internal electrode layers that are alternately laminated. The pattern sheet comprises a dielectric material green sheet and a conductor pattern. The conductor pattern is formed on the dielectric material green sheet and contains a main component selected from Ni, Cu and their alloy, at least one selected from the elements of the groups 3B to 6B of the periodic table and at least one selected from Mn, Co and Fe. The multilayer ceramic capacitor so obtained has an internal electrode layer wherein occurrence of discontinuous portions in conductor patterns is suppressed even after firing.

Abstract: A microscope fluorescence illumination apparatus includes a light source having a solid-state illumination device which generates illumination light, an illumination optical system which guides the illumination light from the light source onto a sample, and a controller configured to control turning ON and OFF of the solid-state illumination device and dimming of the illumination light.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic component is composed of a ceramic body obtained by laminating a plurality of ceramic layers via a conductor layer. The conductor layer is a plated film and extracted to one end face of the ceramic body, thereby contributing to the formation of capacity. A peripheral edge portion of the conductor layer composed of the plated film is thicker than its inner region. This avoids stripping on the peripheral edge portion of the conductor layer and avoids internal defects such as delamination. A dummy conductor layer may be formed at a distance on the end opposite the end face for extraction.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic component of the present invention includes dielectric layers (7) and internal electrode layers (5) that are alternatively laminated. The internal electrode layers (5) are exposed alternatively to opposite sides in a laminating direction. The multilayer electronic component has at both ends thereof external electrodes (3) connected to the internal electrode layers (5), and the thickness of a connected end of the internal electrode layers (5) with the external electrodes (3) is greater than the thickness of a non-connecting end. Therefore, even if the internal electrode layers (5) are thinned, the multilayer electronic component is excellent in electrical connection property between the internal electrode layer (5) and the external electrodes (5), thereby obtaining high electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: A control system of a stage of a microscope includes: a stage transfer unit for transferring the stage for loading a sample perpendicular to an optical axis of the microscope; a transfer command acquisition unit for obtaining command information for a transfer of the stage; a stop position direction storage unit for storing stop position direction information which is information generated according to the command information obtained from the transfer command acquisition unit, and the information about a position and direction when an operation of the stage transfer unit is stopped; and a stage transfer control unit for controlling an operation of stage transfer unit according to the stop position direction information stored in the stop position direction storage unit.

Abstract: An optical microscope apparatus selectively arranges a plurality of optical elements in an optical path, and includes: a manual switch unit capable of manually switching any of the plurality of optical elements; a detection unit detecting an arrangement status of manually switched optical elements; a storage unit storing information relating to the arrangement of the plurality of optical elements for each observing method; and an arrangement control unit arranging the plurality of optical elements according to the detection result by the detection unit and the information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic component of the present invention includes dielectric layers (7) and internal electrode layers (5) that are alternatively laminated. The internal electrode layers (5) are exposed alternatively to opposite sides in a laminating direction. The multilayer electronic component has at both ends thereof external electrodes (3) connected to the internal electrode layers (5), and the thickness of a connected end of the internal electrode layers (5) with the external electrodes (3) is greater than the thickness of a non-connecting end. Therefore, even if the internal electrode layers (5) are thinned, the multilayer electronic component is excellent in electrical connection property between the internal electrode layer (5) and the external electrodes (5), thereby obtaining high electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: Allocation information indicative of optical elements corresponding to various kinds of observation methods allocated to respective operation buttons and their arrangement states is stored in a non-volatile memory, the allocation information allocated to the manipulated operation button is read from the non-volatile memory, and the optical elements are arranged in respective optical paths of an observation optical system and an illumination optical system in accordance with the allocation information.

Abstract: An optical element change-over control apparatus is provided that has an optical element change-over member capable of holding a plurality of optical elements and rotating alternatively to locate a specific optical element on an optical path. A control element drives a driving element to rotate the optical element change-over member and counts positioning signals delivered from a positioning detecting element during a time interval that elapses from the instant that a point of origin of the optical element change-over member is first detected by an origin detecting element until the point of origin of the optical element change-over member is secondly detected by the origin detecting element, thereby detecting the number of change-over stages of the optical element change-over member.

Abstract: An optical element change-over control apparatus comprises an optical element change-over member capable of holding a plurality of optical elements and rotating alternatively to locate a specific optical element on an optical path. A driving element serves to rotate the optical element change-over member. A positioning detecting element detects the selected optical element being positioned so that the optical element stays in a predetermined position on the optical path, and outputs positioning signals. An origin detecting element detects the point of origin of the optical element change-over member.

Abstract: In an internally meshing planetary gear structure with trochoidal tooth profile, the input shaft and the eccentric body are coupled so that radial displacement is possible and that the displacement between the eccentric body shaft and the input shaft is absorbed. In addition to this, positioning members or thrust bearings are used to suppress the axial movement or the inclination of the eccentric body or the external-toothed gears.